One cinema in Australia has faced huge backlash over their choice of “dark” snacks during the premier of the long-awaited remake of The Little Mermaid.
Disney have been loving live-action remakes in recent years. With everything from Beauty and the Beast to Dumbo having been reimagined for audiences, it’s no surprise that they are moving onto readapt one of their most classic films – The Little Mermaid.
However, the movie’s first trailer was met with a huge backlash after it debuted.
The 1989 classic, which tells the story of a mermaid princess, called Ariel, who falls in love with a human prince on land, is officially getting the live-action treatment, with Halle Bailey taking on the role of Ariel.
Bailey is best known in the R&B singing duo with her older sister, Chloe. Similarly to the likes of Justin Bieber, the pair started off by covering well-known songs online.
Their debut EP, Sugar Symphony, was released in April 2016 and, that year, they opened for Beyoncé on the European leg of her Formation World Tour. Now, that’s a pretty impressive resume.
Chloe and Halle worked with the star again in 2018, opening on the US portion of her and Jay Z’s On The Run II tour.
The duo has picked up 2 Grammy nominations as well as impressively performing at both the Super Bowl — which is deemed to be one of the most sought-after gigs to take the stage at — and the 61st annual Grammy Awards.
The younger half of the singing has also added Disney to her resume. She’ll be riding solo to star in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
After “extensive” searching, they finally found their perfect Ariel, with Halle Bailey set to take on the role of everyone’s favourite mermaid princess.
Director, Rob Marshall, seems very smitten with his choice of Ariel and, according to the BBC, said that Halle “Possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance – plus a glorious singing voice.”
And that singing voice really will be put to good use…
The live-action remake is said to include everyone’s favourite songs from the 1989 original, including the likes of ‘Under The Sea’ and ‘Kiss The Girl’ as well as new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. We don’t know about you, but we’re so happy right now.
However, after the full length trailer dropped, many bashed it, with more than 600,000 (eighty-three per cent) viewers hitting the dislike button on YouTube at the time.
And it seems the hate extends to other social media sites too, as on Twitter the hashtag NotMyAriel began trending, with one user writing: “The Little Mermaid is a Danish fairy tale The Danish people are, historically speaking, white. Why make Ariel black? Just because it’s 2023? It’s not racism, it’s simply wondering why the need to change it in the first place? Would you accept a white live-action Pocahontas?”
Speaking about the backlash, Bailey told The Face magazine: “As a Black person, you just expect it and it’s not really a shock anymore.”
Speaking about the role she also told People: “The fact that now it’s getting to be played by me, a person who looks like me, woman of colour, I’m just like, wow, I’m so grateful for what it will do for all the other little Black and brown boys and girls who will see themselves in me.
“Because I know if I had seen myself when I was younger, I think my whole perspective would’ve changed.”
The movie has since premiered in select cinemas, and people have been left in shock at what was on offer during the live-action film’s Australian debut.
Sushi was provided for moviegoers to snack on while watching.
People who went are now sharing their opinions on the dubious menu choice on TikTok.
One participant by the name of Cody Jon posted a video of the food on offer on social media, with the caption: “To whoever planned this. You’re sick. But also brilliant.”
It wasn’t long before the video went viral, and it has since accumulated thousands of comments from viewers questioning the cinema’s decision.
One viewer wrote: “I was like why is it dark… I scrolled 3 videos and went OHHHHH.”
Another added: “Who on earth was in charge of the menu and WHY.”
“Not them serving up SUSHI,” a third commented.
The highly anticipated movie is set to hit cinemas on May 26, will you be watching?
